The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-25
THE IRISH QUESTION.

The pending debate in the British Com
mons is on proposition of the government
declaring urgency for number of measures
relating to Ireland, the chief of which
is well termed coercion bill. It formulates
the present governments policy towards Ire
land, and that is distinctively policy of coer-
con- More fully defined, it means denial
to Ireland of home rule, and the severe en-
forcement of severe measures. The title of
the bill is IA bill for the amendment of the
criminal law in Ireland" and in introducing it
Mr. William Henry Smith, the government
leader, moved that it have precedence over all
orders of the day. Mr.. John Morley moved
an amendment, that "This house declines to
set aside the business of the nation in favor
of a measure for increasing the stringency of
the criminal law in Ireland, while no effectual
security is taken against an abuse of the law
by the exaction of excessive rents"
On this the issue was Joined. Mr.
Morley's amendment is skillfully drawn, and
to vote against it. It raises only the question
of rent, and when this is disposed of the
broader one Of home rule will still remain.
Mr.. Morley, the mover of the amendment is
one of the foremost men in English politics,
and next to Gladstone represents Liberalism.
He is noted as an author and literary worker,
as well as a statesman. In politics he is con-
spicuous for his advanced views, for the
irmness of his convictions, and for the fear
lessness with which he supports them. He
is man Of unimpeachable honesty and
unbounded courage. Among English states
men the cause of Irish home rule could have
no ADLER or Drawer advocate. Though a Lib
eral, Mr.. Morley is not an extremist. AS he
is one Of the most prominent men in British
politics. and perhaps the coming man of the
future, we quote what a recent writer says of
him:
''Mr. Morley stands for what may be called
| conservative radicalsm in all things. He
would do nothing violently, but he would do
much toward republicanizing the kingdom.
| He has no land TO embarrass his course upon
the question that is fundamental in British
politics. He has no prejudices as between
creeds and churches to make it easy for him
| to continue the State props under the one OF
to inflct injustice upon any other. He has
no titles to preserve. and he would expect
none, no matter what eminence he may reach
in craftsmanship. He is a man of the people,
but not a revolutionist; and in Burke's philos
ophy about the revolution of France he is
said mentally to live great part of the time
His ideas about education of the common peo
pie are Diderot's He would not force society
but he would give it every chance to grow
He believes in the school-room, not in the
| arsenal"
This is the picture of Gladstone,s stronges
coadjutor among Engishmen in the cause O.
justice fer Ireland MR. Morley is not al
hopeful of eaiy success for home rule as ar,
some of its advocates. Only few days ag'
he expressed the conviction that the Liberals
are in for five or six years of hard fighting be
fore home rule will be conceded. AS illus
trating the progress the cause had made, b,
called attention to the fact that in the debat,
on Mr. Parnell's land bill Of 1883, only fiv,
English members could be found in the Who'll,
House to support then what now falls shor